Illinois rep mourns wife’s death

The wife of Rep. Bobby Rush died Monday, the Illinois Democrat announced. 

“Today I have lost my best friend, the love of my life, my confidant and my best half,” Rush said in a statement. “This one of the most difficult days of my life. If there is any comfort at all, it is in knowing that Carolyn is no longer suffering and that she has returned to our Father in Heaven. I will always cherish her. She was everything to me. I am devastated.”

{mosads}Rush’s wife Carolyn was 67. She died of congestive heart failure at the University of Chicago Hospital, a statement said, with her family by her side.

Rush thanked the hospital staff, as well as his constituents and colleagues in Congress for their understanding as he spent time away from Washington over the past several years to be with his wife through surgeries and other health issues.

“I want to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support over the last several months as Carolyn’s health faded. I want to commend the University of Chicago’s medical staff who provided excellent care for her for the duration of her illness,” he said.

“I also express my sincerest appreciation to my colleagues in Congress, and to my constituents for understanding why it was so important for me to be with my wife when I also had to be in Washington. Choosing to be with her until the very end was really no choice for me at all. As her husband it was my duty and as a man of God it was also my responsibility to be by her side.” 

“Carolyn never left my side when I was diagnosed with cancer. She’s the reason I’m still here. I will forever miss my friend,” he said. 

Rush was diagnosed with a rare form of salivary gland cancer in 2007 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his jaw along with chemotherapy and radiation. He announced he was cancer-free in 2008. 

Rush, 70, has served in Congress since 1993. He and Carolyn were married 36 years and have six children and 11 grandchildren.